Lonnie Baseball: Best Individual Performance In Indians History?
Need I say more about Lonnie Chisenhall? Last Monday, Lonnie took the baseball world by storm, hitting 5 hits, 3 home runs, going 5-5 on the day, and hitting 9 RBIs to help the Indians cruise by the Texas Rangers 17-6 and win Cleveland the series 4-1, their 4th straight series win.
Chisenhall tied the Indians record for most RBIs (Chris James also hit 9 RBIs against Oakland in 1991), and is the first player since Chris Delgado in 2008 to hit 9 RBIs in a game. Lonnie also hit at least 1 RBI every time he was up to bat last night, and is the only player in MLB history to go 5-5 with 5 hits, 3 home runs and 9 RBIs.
It’s a breakout game for someone who’s getting the attention of the MLB. Few baseball players have put up as impressive numbers in a single game as Chisenhall did last night. And with an on base percentage above 1.000, these are jaw dropping stats for someone who was supposed to be replaced by Carlos Santana earlier this season.
Does anything else compare to Chisenhall’s history making performance? A few, as it turns out. Tribe legend Rocky Colavito went 4-4 and hit 4 home runs in a single game (1959 against the Baltimore Orioles), an extremely impressive feat. In 2000, Kenny Lofton had 4 hits, 5 stolen bases, and a walkoff home run, coindidentally against the Orioles as well.
It’s tough to beat Colavito and Lofton’s performances, but Chisenhall’s performance just barely exceeds those in my opinion. Considering Lonnie almost hit for a cycle as well makes it all the more impressive.
You could say it was quite a day for Lonnie Baseball.
